Mu Geminorum

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Mu Geminorum
Gemini Constellation
Gemini Constellation
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation
(pronunciation)		 Gemini
Right ascension 06h 22m 57.627s[1]
Declination +22° 30′ 48.91″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +2.75 to +3.02[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type M3.0IIIab[2]
U-B color index 1.85[3]
B-V color index 1.64[3]
Variable type LB[2]
Astrometry
Parallax (π) 14.07 ± 0.93[1] mas
Distance 230 ± 20 ly
(71 ± 5 pc)
Other designations
Tejat, Tejat Posterior, Pish Pai, Calx, μ Geminorum, μ Gem, 13 Geminorum, 13 Gem, HD 44478, HR 2286, BD+22°1304, HIP 30343, SAO 78297, CCDM J06230+2230A, ADS 4990A, FK5 241[1][4][5]

Mu Geminorum (μ Gem / μ Geminorum) is a star in the constellation Gemini, approximately 230 light years away from Earth.[1] It has the traditional names Tejat Posterior, which means back foot, and Tejat, because it is the foot of Castor, one of the Gemini twins. The names Calx (Latin, meaning heel) and Pish Pai (from the Persian Pīshpāy, پیش‌پای, meaning foreleg) have also been applied to this star.[5][4][6] The names Mu Geminorum is an irregular variable of type LB. Its brightness varies between magnitude +2.75 and +3.02 over a 72 day period, with a 2,000 day period of long term variation. It is a red giant of the spectral class M3, with a surface temperature of 3,650 kelvins, meaning it is brighter, yet cooler than our Sun.[4][2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Simbad Query Result, V* mu. Gem. Simbad. Retrieved on October 12, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d mu Gem, entry in the Combined General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS4.2), N. N. Samus, O. V. Durlevich, et al., database identifier II/250 at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
  3. ^ a b HR 2286, entry at the Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed., D. Hoffleit and W. H. Warren, Jr., database identifier V/50 at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
  4. ^ a b c Mu Geminorum at Jim Kaler's STARS.
  5. ^ a b p. 236, Star-names and Their Meanings, Richard Hinckley Allen, G. E. Stechert, 1899.
  6. ^ Astronomers Predict Eclipse of Naked-Eye Star by an Asteroid Monday Morning, Nov. 20 at Spaceref.com.